Project Aerial

Description

My goal is to create a “jack-of-all trades” drone that can function as an Freestyle, Racing, and Cinematic Camera drone

with sustainability features, AI smart features, and its own “personality.”

Although the first drone created through Project Aerial succeeded in many of the criteria (longer battery life,

portability/foldability, FAA-approval, camera servo functionality, scalability, and quality camera and video quality in

certain environments), two critical issues was its stability in turbulent winds and camera quality in darker environments.

Furthermore, Stage 2 (adding smart functionalities such as Follow-Me, Orbit, Toss Launch, Voice Launch, etc) and Stage 3

(using Machine Learning to create a “personality” that reacts to stimuli) of Project Aerial were discovered to be

impossible with the current circuit board.

After discussing the issue with two software engineers at the Anduril drone company, they suggested a complete

overhaul using parts that I specifically sourced, specifically a programmable flight controller.

By researching the benefits of a programmable flight controller and specifically sourced parts, I realized I could go

further beyond the features listed in Stage 2 and implement AI features like an AI “Co-Pilot” with videography obstacle

sensing, AI stability assistance, the aforementioned personality of Stage 3 as well as sustainable features like renewableenergy

powered and kinetic energy recovery and much more.

Ultimately, the proposed drone stands head and shoulders above the drone made previously with Project Aerial and has

the power to push drone photography to its limits and encourage further innovation within the drone community.

Junwoo Kim